School Retreats at the Solomon Center

Schools That Retreat Here

Across nearly two decades of detailed records, the Solomon Center has served as a primary retreat venue for Catholic high schools throughout South Louisiana, with Christian and independent schools increasingly joining the calendar. Recurring schools include:

• ✓ Mt. Carmel Academy
• ✓ Brother Martin High School
• ✓ Our Lady of Mercy (OLOM)
• ✓ Cabrini High School
• ✓ Archbishop Hannan High School
• ✓ St. Paul's School
• ✓ St. Joseph's Academy
• ✓ St. Scholastica Academy
• ✓ Pope John Paul II High
• ✓ Holy Cross School
• ✓ Mt. Carmel Mandeville
• ✓ Multiple parish CCD groups

Programs Hosted

The Solomon Center is purpose-suited for the most common school retreat formats:

Kairos Retreats	3–4 day senior retreats with full chapel access, breakout rooms, and overnight lodging
Junior Retreats	2–3 day class retreats with formation programming
Senior Retreats	End-of-year capstone retreats with dedicated programming time
Confirmation Retreats	Sacrament-focused weekend retreats; chapel access for confirmation prep
Faculty Formation	Annual teacher and staff retreats; smaller groups, longer sessions
Campus Ministry Retreats	Leadership team formation for student ministers
Student Leadership Weekends	Officer and council retreats for Christian and independent schools
Class Reflection Days	Single-day day-meeting format for younger grades

What Schools Get

• Consecrated Chapel — Full liturgical equipment, altar, lectern, vessels. Equipped for Mass, Eucharistic adoration, reconciliation, ecumenical Christian worship, and prayer services.
• Full-Class Lodging — 44 rooms accommodate up to 132 students plus chaperones. Standard rooms have two queen beds (ideal for student pairs); suites available for retreat leaders, chaplains, and faculty.
• Dining for Full Grade Levels — Dining hall seats 100+; we accommodate full classes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Chef Jeff's team plans student menus that get eaten — generous portions, familiar formats, from-scratch quality. All standard dietary needs handled.
• Retreat Programming Spaces — Primary conference room (132 theater / 72 banquet) for general sessions; secondary conference room (28) for smaller breakouts; 5 additional breakout rooms (8–28 each) for small groups, common in Kairos.
• 200 Acres for Unstructured Time — Trails, lake, prairie, campfires. The space teenagers actually open up during.
• Distance From Home — 75 minutes from New Orleans; far enough that retreat feels real, close enough that parents are at ease.
• Experienced Staff — Our team has hosted thousands of student retreats. We know what works for sixth grade and what works for seniors.

Booking Notes

School retreats follow predictable annual patterns, which means lead times matter:

• October & March: Peak retreat months — schools should reserve 12+ months in advance.
• September & April: Shoulder season — usually 6–9 months ahead.
• February & May: Late-fall and late-spring availability often opens up here.
• November & January: Often available with shorter lead times, ideal weather for student retreats.

The Archbishop's office and Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana have an active relationship; the Solomon Center is regularly recommended through diocesan channels for school retreat needs.